BUSHKILL - Implementation of Traffic Safety Improvements on U. S. Route 209 will resume in May. Some of the paving and guardrail work began last fall.

The National Park Service and the Federal Highway Administration conducted a Traffic Safety Study in 2009 to evaluate accident trends and to develop traffic safety countermeasures to reduce traffic accidents.U.S. Route 209 is the most heavily traveled roadway in the park and the 517 reported crashes between 2001 and 2007 represent 42% of the park's total crashes during the study period.The goal of this project is to enhance the safety of park visitors on U.S. Route 209.

One of the safety improvements includes installing a centerline rumble strip on the roadway.A centerline rumble strip is a safety feature consisting of milled grooves in the pavement to alert drivers (through vibration and sound) that their vehicle has left the travel lane.U.S. Route 209 has a history of crashes that involve lane departure, head-on collisions and opposing direction sideswipe collisions and this countermeasure is designed to mitigate this problem.

Other safety countermeasures include:

• Installation of a turning lane and new traffic signals at the intersection of U.S. Route 209 and Bushkill Falls Road
• Safety improvements at other intersections
• Replacement of all traffic signs in accordance with the latest federal traffic safety sign standards
• Variable message signs
• Installation of pedestrian crosswalks near the intersections of Route 209 and Bushkill Falls Road and Route 209 and Route 739
• Repaving sections of the roadway
• Guardrail repairs
• Shoulder improvements
• Line painting

The project is expected to be completed in the fall. Motorists should expect minor delays and lane closures from time to time during the project.